A Chinese traveller's near-miss with a flight out of Hanoi has turned into a viral thank-you note to Vietnam, after a local taxi driver went above and beyond to get him and his girlfriend to the airport on time — then refused to take a tip.
The couple, who had entered Vietnam by coach from Nanning in China's Guangxi province, were due to fly from Hanoi to Da Nang on October 3. By the time they left the Old Quarter at 2:10 p.m., they had under three hours before departure and were planning to catch a shuttle bus from Hang Tre Street for a total fare of VND 90,000. Once in the car, Liu realised the vehicle was actually a private ride for just the two of them. He told the driver money wasn't an issue if they made the flight — but the driver stuck firmly to the agreed price of VND 160,000.
The driver hunted out shortcuts and pushed the pace, only to hit heavy traffic crossing Nhat Tan Bridge. He kept turning round to reassure the passengers in simple English: "Busy, busy, 10 minutes." They rolled into Noi Bai International Airport around 3:50 p.m. with the flight still within reach. A grateful Liu called him a "hero" and offered VND 200,000 — a VND 40,000 tip included — but the driver accepted only the agreed fare, shook hands, and drove off. Liu later posted the story on Xiaohongshu, regretting he hadn't even thought to photograph the man in the black car.
It wasn't the only kindness on their first trip to Vietnam. Earlier in Hanoi, a ride-hailing driver agreed to let their hotel settle the fare when Liu couldn't pay electronically and had no cash. In Da Nang, two women they met in a cable car used their own Vietnamese phone number to book a restaurant that required a reservation. The couple rode the Ba Na Hills cable car, tried the roller coaster there, and Liu relied on pho as his dependable go-to meal throughout. His girlfriend joked she'd seen more foreigners in a few days in Vietnam than in her life before.
The warm story lands at a good moment for Vietnamese tourism: the country welcomed over 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of the year, and China is its biggest source market with 3.9 million arrivals. Popular draws for Chinese travellers include Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Ha Long Bay, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The couple plan to return — she's eyeing Phu Quoc, he wants Ho Chi Minh City.
For travellers, the takeaway is reassuring: getting around Vietnam often works out better than the stress suggests, and locals frequently step up when plans go sideways. Liu's one piece of practical advice for Hanoi is a good one — cross the busy streets calmly and confidently, and the traffic will flow around you.
